I’ve spent the last year and a half slowly and as quietly as possible, closing up what had been to this point, my father’s life’s work as it was mine respectively. A glass company that started in a small garage with one full time employee. That employee was the 1988 version of my dad. In 2001 after I decided to take an unexpected break from retail, I joined my dad on his big adventure. It wasn’t that I was in love with the business but I saw that my dad was an amazing glazier, that’s a glass fabricator and installer, but business just wasn’t his strong suit, so I dove in. We grew the business to something amazing…we had pictures of our work published in trade magazines, I invented some industry specific tools that are still sold to this day, we put the word glazier all over HGTV, and I spoke at conferences about trends that we were helping create as well as other industry related topics! To know that it all came from a small little one man operation was pretty damn amazing. Yet, with all its glory, the entrepreneurial journey is a treacherous one. Peaks of success can swiftly transform into valleys of hardship, and so it did for Anderson Glass. Today, that incredible journey ends with this self addressed letter. A letter that I never thought I’d be authoring. A letter that I hope helps someone else that might be somewhere on their journey through entrepreneurship. A letter that explains the short comings of a failed business. A letter that fires Anderson Glass’s final employee. Please find the attached termination letter for Dustin Anderson, President of Anderson Glass.
Dear Dustin,
We write this letter with a heavy heart. It is with regret that we inform you of the termination of your position as President of Anderson Glass. This decision has not been reached lightly. However, due to a combination of circumstances and events, it has become apparent that this is the appropriate course of action. The following points detail the issues that have led to this conclusion:
Lack of Follow-Up: Your attention to detail and follow-up with both internal and external stakeholders has significantly diminished, causing a ripple effect of uncompleted tasks and miscommunications. This has disrupted the workflow and productivity of the company.
Loss of Financial Control: The financial stability of Anderson Glass has been compromised under your leadership. Financial prudence and rigorous budget management, both crucial for a business's survival and growth, were disregarded, leading to our current predicament.
Employee Culture Disaster: One of your primary responsibilities was to foster a healthy, collaborative, and motivated company culture. This has not been achieved, leading to low morale, decreased productivity, and high employee turnover.
Failure to Capitalize on Television Opportunities: Opportunities to leverage our association with the popular show Fixer Upper were largely overlooked, missing a golden chance to boost the company's brand recognition and potential profitability.
Impact of Personal Life: Personal events have had an unfortunate and significant impact on your ability to lead effectively and make sound decisions for the business.
Fear of Losing the BIG Client: Your reluctance to assertively manage our major clients, for fear of losing them, has ultimately put the business in a disadvantageous position.
Failure to Chase Money Owed: Outstanding payments and debts have not been pursued with the required vigor, damaging our cash flow and the overall financial health of Anderson Glass.
Hiring Missteps: The company's success relies on having the right people in the right roles. Unfortunately, some hiring decisions made under your leadership have not served the company's best interests.
Failure to Leverage Wins: We've had significant achievements, but the inability to effectively capitalize on these victories and use them to push the company forward has been a missed opportunity.
Neglect of Mental Health: Finally, your failure to prioritize your mental health has had serious repercussions on your performance and the company's trajectory. Good leadership requires a sound mind, and this has been lacking in recent times.
We hope this letter serves as a moment of reflection, a guide that will illuminate the path for future ventures. We have seen your potential and your capabilities, and we believe that these experiences will only add to your resilience and strength.
Thank you for your services and the role you have played in shaping Anderson Glass. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Dustin Anderson
President
Anderson Glass